Spiritual Renewal Study Bible
Notes by
Stephen Arterburn & David Stoop
A Review
Each Bible book begins with a brief synopsis of the book (“The Big Picture”) and review of the key themes found in the book as they relate to Spiritual Renewal. As expected, these prepare the reader to read the whole book.
The bulk of the notes are not quite a Study Bible (in spite of its name); neither are they quite a Devotional Bible. This book might best be entitled a “Devotionally Centered Study Bible” most notes help the reader understand each section of the Bible as presented in the NIV and includes a brief devotional thought or two which will help the reader apply the text to his or her own life.
What truly gives value to this edition of the Bible are the “Study Notes” found at the rear of the Bible. The authors provides a comprehensive index to the text note found in the body of the book. The editors provide a series of devotional readings focusing on seven “Spiritual Keys”:
Key 1: Seek God and Surrender to Him
Key 2: See the Truth
Key 3: Speak the Truth
Key 4: Accept Responsibility
Key 5: Grieve, Forgive, and Let Go
Key 6: Transform Your Life
Key 7: Preserve Spiritual Gains
Each of these themes, though somewhat disquised in the notes. Provide ten to twenty devotional thoughts scattered throughout the scriptures centered on the given Spiritual Key.
Two additional back end notes contribute to the book's worth – a set of character profiles integrated into the text notes and a set of readings on ten Spiritual Disciplines:
Bible Study and Meditation Fasting
Prayer Repentance and Confession
Service Silence
Solitude Spiritual Friendship
Stewardship Worship
Though not strong on theology, this Bible would be a good book for anyone seeking to renew their walk with God or for a new believer seeking to find how God's word can apply to everyday life.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.
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